Robert Harrison Oliver was born on August 14, 1925 to Margaret 'Marge' Spano Oliver and Milburn Oliver in Ontario, San Bernardino, California. By age 14 the family had moved to Long Beach, California. In 1943, Bobby graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Long Beach. In 1946, single and living in Long Beach, he registered as a Republican. He attended Long Beach College before moving on to pursue a career as a singer. He became friends with Nat King Cole, who played piano at his and Barbara's wedding.
On November 26, 1947 in California, Bob married Barbara Ann Blakeley, who would eventually become Frank Sinatra's final wife. Bob was known as a 'bartender, aspiring singer, and entrepreneur.' Bob thought he sounded like Frank Sinatra and hoped to make it big in the entertainment industry.
Bob and Barbara moved to New York where Barbara became a model represented by Ford Modeling Agency, and got work for Vogue and Life magazines. She also became pregnant with her one and only child, Robert.
They eventually moved back to Long Beach after Bob Oliver failed to succeed in New York. Barbara opened her Barbara Blakely School of Modeling and Charm in Long Beach in 1950 when his singing career did not take off. She gave birth to their son, Bobby, on Oct. 10, 1950. She then helped launch the Miss Universe pageant, developed a cosmetics line, turned "Barbara Blakely and Her Cover Girl Models" into a one-year TV series.
In 1952, only 4 years into their marriage, the two decided to call it quits. Little Bobby was only two years old. By 1956, Barbara moved to Las Vegas.
Barbara divorced Oliver and she married Zeppo Marx in 1959. Her son Robert Oliver was not formally adopted by Zeppo, but eventually took his last name and became Robert Oliver Marx, an entertainment attorney in New York.
By 1960 Bob was the Director of the International Beauty Contest "Miss Universe" where he met contestant, Miss Spain, Maria Del Rio, 4th Runner-Up.
On July 14, 1960 newspapers published that Miss Spain, Miss Maria Theresa Del Rio age 21 was engaged to marry Bobby, age 34. The marriage never happened.
Bob died on October 14, 2001 at the age of 76 in Long Beach, California.
Contributor: Deb Ehrich (48489494)
On November 26, 1947 in California, Bob married Barbara Ann Blakeley, who would eventually become Frank Sinatra's final wife. Bob was known as a 'bartender, aspiring singer, and entrepreneur.' Bob thought he sounded like Frank Sinatra and hoped to make it big in the entertainment industry.
Bob and Barbara moved to New York where Barbara became a model represented by Ford Modeling Agency, and got work for Vogue and Life magazines. She also became pregnant with her one and only child, Robert.
They eventually moved back to Long Beach after Bob Oliver failed to succeed in New York. Barbara opened her Barbara Blakely School of Modeling and Charm in Long Beach in 1950 when his singing career did not take off. She gave birth to their son, Bobby, on Oct. 10, 1950. She then helped launch the Miss Universe pageant, developed a cosmetics line, turned "Barbara Blakely and Her Cover Girl Models" into a one-year TV series.
In 1952, only 4 years into their marriage, the two decided to call it quits. Little Bobby was only two years old. By 1956, Barbara moved to Las Vegas.
Barbara divorced Oliver and she married Zeppo Marx in 1959. Her son Robert Oliver was not formally adopted by Zeppo, but eventually took his last name and became Robert Oliver Marx, an entertainment attorney in New York.
By 1960 Bob was the Director of the International Beauty Contest "Miss Universe" where he met contestant, Miss Spain, Maria Del Rio, 4th Runner-Up.
On July 14, 1960 newspapers published that Miss Spain, Miss Maria Theresa Del Rio age 21 was engaged to marry Bobby, age 34. The marriage never happened.
Bob died on October 14, 2001 at the age of 76 in Long Beach, California.
Contributor: Deb Ehrich (48489494)
Robert Harrison Oliver was born on August 14, 1925 to Margaret 'Marge' Spano Oliver and Milburn Oliver in Ontario, San Bernardino, California. By age 14 the family had moved to Long Beach, California. In 1943, Bobby graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School, Long Beach. In 1946, single and living in Long Beach, he registered as a Republican. He attended Long Beach College before moving on to pursue a career as a singer. He became friends with Nat King Cole, who played piano at his and Barbara's wedding.
On November 26, 1947 in California, Bob married Barbara Ann Blakeley, who would eventually become Frank Sinatra's final wife. Bob was known as a 'bartender, aspiring singer, and entrepreneur.' Bob thought he sounded like Frank Sinatra and hoped to make it big in the entertainment industry.
Bob and Barbara moved to New York where Barbara became a model represented by Ford Modeling Agency, and got work for Vogue and Life magazines. She also became pregnant with her one and only child, Robert.
They eventually moved back to Long Beach after Bob Oliver failed to succeed in New York. Barbara opened her Barbara Blakely School of Modeling and Charm in Long Beach in 1950 when his singing career did not take off. She gave birth to their son, Bobby, on Oct. 10, 1950. She then helped launch the Miss Universe pageant, developed a cosmetics line, turned "Barbara Blakely and Her Cover Girl Models" into a one-year TV series.
In 1952, only 4 years into their marriage, the two decided to call it quits. Little Bobby was only two years old. By 1956, Barbara moved to Las Vegas.
Barbara divorced Oliver and she married Zeppo Marx in 1959. Her son Robert Oliver was not formally adopted by Zeppo, but eventually took his last name and became Robert Oliver Marx, an entertainment attorney in New York.
By 1960 Bob was the Director of the International Beauty Contest "Miss Universe" where he met contestant, Miss Spain, Maria Del Rio, 4th Runner-Up.
On July 14, 1960 newspapers published that Miss Spain, Miss Maria Theresa Del Rio age 21 was engaged to marry Bobby, age 34. The marriage never happened.
Bob died on October 14, 2001 at the age of 76 in Long Beach, California.
Contributor: Deb Ehrich (48489494)
On November 26, 1947 in California, Bob married Barbara Ann Blakeley, who would eventually become Frank Sinatra's final wife. Bob was known as a 'bartender, aspiring singer, and entrepreneur.' Bob thought he sounded like Frank Sinatra and hoped to make it big in the entertainment industry.
Bob and Barbara moved to New York where Barbara became a model represented by Ford Modeling Agency, and got work for Vogue and Life magazines. She also became pregnant with her one and only child, Robert.
They eventually moved back to Long Beach after Bob Oliver failed to succeed in New York. Barbara opened her Barbara Blakely School of Modeling and Charm in Long Beach in 1950 when his singing career did not take off. She gave birth to their son, Bobby, on Oct. 10, 1950. She then helped launch the Miss Universe pageant, developed a cosmetics line, turned "Barbara Blakely and Her Cover Girl Models" into a one-year TV series.
In 1952, only 4 years into their marriage, the two decided to call it quits. Little Bobby was only two years old. By 1956, Barbara moved to Las Vegas.
Barbara divorced Oliver and she married Zeppo Marx in 1959. Her son Robert Oliver was not formally adopted by Zeppo, but eventually took his last name and became Robert Oliver Marx, an entertainment attorney in New York.
By 1960 Bob was the Director of the International Beauty Contest "Miss Universe" where he met contestant, Miss Spain, Maria Del Rio, 4th Runner-Up.
On July 14, 1960 newspapers published that Miss Spain, Miss Maria Theresa Del Rio age 21 was engaged to marry Bobby, age 34. The marriage never happened.
Bob died on October 14, 2001 at the age of 76 in Long Beach, California.
Contributor: Deb Ehrich (48489494)
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